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This festive Pull Apart Christmas Tree Garlic Bread is light, soft, buttery, garlicky, perfectly salted, and SO delicious. Serve this warm right out of the oven with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt and marinara for dipping. It’s melt in your mouth good…and oh so impressive. This is simpler than you’d think to make, and such a fun pull-apart bread for all of your upcoming holiday dinners.
Ingredients
- Garlic
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Warm whole milk
- Instant yeast
- Honey
- Large eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Kosher salt
- Salted butter
- Grated parmesan
- Chopped fresh sage
- Dried basil
- Dried oregano
- Dried parsley
- Chili flakes
What you will need in the kitchen:
- Stand mixer and bowl
- Foil
- Medium bowl
- Forks and knives
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
I’ve already made a pull apart wreath so I figured it was time to add a Christmas tree to the mix! I’ve seen these for years, but wanted to give it my own touch. And you guys, I love this bread!
It’s oddly simpler than you’d think to make (you have to look at the photos, visuals make it much easier). And so flipping good! It’s hard to beat garlic bread, but shape it like a Christmas tree?
Yes, it’s just that much better.
I’ve wanted to make this for a long time. Last year I ran out of days in December. So this year I put it on our content calendar way back in October…and never moved it off. When I told my mom the idea, she immediately said, “oh you have to make that!!”.
In our house, no holiday dinner is complete without a side of homemade bread. Most of the time I’ll make some form of a soft, buttery roll. But this year I wanted something a bit more festive.
Going into this recipe I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, I was actually nervous. I just wanted it to work and turn out great so badly! I had a vision in my head and it needed to match! And thankfully I got it just right!
It’s delicious, festive, and well…it smells amazing while baking away in the oven.
The details
I know this bread might look like it takes hours to make, but trust me, it’s not as tricky as you think. First, make a milk-based bread dough, roll it out, then cut the dough into a triangle. Next, spread on plenty of roasted garlic butter. Then add another triangle of dough on top.
From here, simply cut slits up the tree and twist them! Seems crazy, I know, but it’s going to be great!!
Use the photos as a visual guide, they will really help!
The dough
Flour, instant yeast, and a pinch of salt with milk, eggs, and butter. The combination creates a beautiful golden crust on the outside, but the inside stays incredibly soft and fluffy.
I prefer to use instant yeast to keep the dough making process quick and simple! It also prevents the dough from rising too much in the oven, which helps the tree keep its shape better.
The roasted garlic butter
Roasting garlic is really easy. If you’ve never done it before it really adds a layer of deliciousness to your recipes.
Slice the top portion of the garlic head off to reveal the cloves. Then place the garlic on a small piece of foil, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap the garlic up. Roast for about forty minutes, until the garlic is deeply golden and soft.
I like to mash the garlic with butter, parmesan, and herbs. Nothing fancy, but wow, so good.
What’s great about this pull apart bread is that while it’s a nice addition to your dinner party menu, it also works as an appetizer. It would be nice to have this ready just as your guests arrive. They can snack on bread and enjoy cocktails before dinner. It’s always nice to have something for people to graze over while chatting away.
The most important thing you must do? Serve the bread warm with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Truly nothing is more delicious. I can’t wait to serve this to my family on Christmas Eve…my brothers and Asher are already excited. They all love a soft garlic bread!
Looking for other bread recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Easy Pull Apart Garlic Parmesan Bread
Salted Honey Butter Parker House Rolls
Herby Everything Cheddar Swirl Buns
Lastly, if you make this Pull Apart Christmas Tree Garlic Bread, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Pull Apart Christmas Tree Garlic Bread
Servings: 16
Calories Per Serving: 132 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 head garlic
- extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup warm whole milk
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 large eggs
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 stick + 2 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 pinch chili flakes
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.2. Slice off the top portion of the garlic head to expose some of the cloves. Place the garlic on a piece of foil. Drizzle with olive oil, wrap it up, and bake for 40-55 minutes, until deeply golden and very soft.3. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the flour, yeast, and salt. Add the warm milk, honey, eggs, and 2 tablespoons butter. Using the dough hook, mix until the flour is completely incorporated, about 4-5 minutes. If the dough seems sticky, add the remaining 1/4-1/2 cup of flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.4. Let the garlic cool, then squeeze the cloves out into a bowl. Add 1 stick butter, the parmesan, sage, basil, oregano, parsley, and chili flakes. Mash the cloves into the butter with a fork. 5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the dough in half. On a floured surface, roll each dough into a large rectangle (roughly 15×11 inches). Place one rectangle on top of the other. To cut a large triangle, cut from the bottom corner to the center of the top. Repeat on the other side to make a large triangle in the middle. Peel away the corners and save for another use. 6. Separate the 2 triangles and place 1 triangle on the prepared baking sheet. Spread 2/3 of the garlic butter over the triangle, carefully place the second triangle on top, matching the corners. Cut the triangle into horizontal slices about 1 inch apart from the top to bottom, leaving the middle “trunk” of the tree intact. Pull the strips and twist (see above photo).8. Brush the top with the remaining garlic butter. Bake 25-30 minutes, until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce.
This post was originally published on December 15, 2021
What if I want to add cheese? Does this change baking/rise times?
Hi Jen,
There is already cheese in this recipe:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can you make this with gluten free flour? Xx
Nevermind my question, I see you answered it below with: yes, just use equal parts GF flour. Can’t wait to try, thanks!
Hi Kelly,
Yes, an equal amount of GF flour will work well for you. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi!
Can I make and bake in the morning and then travel with it, 2 hours, to a family gathering? Will it be fresh still or how do I keep it from getting soggy?
Hey Nadine,
You bet! Just keep in an airtight container. You could also do all the prep up until the baking point. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Do I need to let to totally cool after it finishes baking? Thank you!!
Hi Nadine,
Not at all, this is best served warm:) Please let me know if you give the recipe a try! xTieghan
Would it be okay to use pizza dough? This could be a time-saver if ready-made. Thank you! This looks wonderful and could go with just about any dinner I can think of, including a pot of homemade soup or stew.
Hi Pat,
That should be just fine for you to use! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
How long can I prep it in advance?
Doing a pasta bar and it would be perfect
Hi Stacy,
I would prep no more than 24 hours in advance. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Hi. Can I use shop bought puff pastry instead?
Hey Frankie,
I don’t see why that wouldn’t work for you! Please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Never mind my previous question, I should’ve read the comment section BEFORE sending mine, you’ve answered it several times over.
This looks delicious. How would you break it down so that part of it could be made the day before? Could the dough be made ahead and refrigerated overnight, then begin on the day of by letting it rise again a second time?
Hey Shannon,
Yes, that will also work well for you! I hope you love this recipe. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Can this be made ahead of time and if so how far ahead?
Hi Jessica,
Sure, you could make up until the point of baking, just keep covered in the fridge or on the counter. I hope the recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Do you think I could make this gluten free?
Hi Alina,
Yes, I would use an equal amount of GF flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Looks amazing! Do you think this would work with almond milk?
Hi Anna,
Yes, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Ok so, for those of us that need an easier recipe – can we use pre-made dough like crescent rolls?!?
Hi Megan,
I probably wouldn’t use crescent rolls since they are already pre-sliced, maybe try some puff pastry or pizza dough. Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Hi! Do you brush the remaining 1/3 of garlic butter before twisting or after?
Can’t wait to make this! Love every single one of your recipes I make.
Hi Ashley,
After twisting in step 8:) Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
I’m making chicken and eggplant parm on Christmas Day and this is going to be the garlic bread! But I have 11 hungry Italians to feed – can the dough be doubled? Or tripled? Or should I make each batch separately?
Hey Terri,
For best results, I would make separate batches. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Ok. Thank you. I was confused because the pictures show you brush the top triangle before twisting. Honestly I’ll probably do both , can’t have enough garlic butter ❤️
Hi!! My kiddos and I have been making one or two of your recipes every week for about three months. Minus the cocktails (which we adults ADORE!), the kids have enjoyed helping with many of the recipes. We are working on this one right now and we’re wondering how much Parmesan to use. Grated or shredded? I dont think an amount was specified so we were going to wing it for now. But for future baking, what would you recommend?
Hey Marisa,
You will want to use 1/2 cup of grated parmesan. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
This is super cute, first try I did the 30mins without checking & it was a charred xmas tree! 2nd time I proofed the yeast for a few mins in the warm milk & honey & it rose much nicer. But at 400F with my oven this only took 14 minutes to bake so watch it! Very tasty garlic bread.
Hey Keri,
Awesome! Love to hear that you liked the recipe, thanks a bunch for trying it out! Happy Holidays! xx
Could I prep this in the morning and then bake it right before dinner? Just put in the refrigerator for the day?
Hey Sarah,
Yes, that will work well for you, you could also just leave it covered on the counter. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan